Water spouts spin over Lake Michigan near Wisconsin

KENOSHA, Wis. -- Twin water spouts put on a spectacular show over Lake Michigan, near the Wisconsin shore.

The water spouts were sighted a couple of miles off shore about 1:30 p.m. Thursday after a funnel cloud was sighted in the Wisconsin town of Kenosha. Sgt. Bill Beth of the Kenosha County sheriff's office says the two water spouts merged into one large one, then split.

Beth says it was a "beautiful day" when the water spouts "just popped out of nowhere." National Weather Service meteorologist Ed Townsend says water spouts generally occur between August and October.

Warning sirens were activated around 1:15 p.m. No damage or injuries were reported. The U.S. Coast Guard searched Lake Michigan after witnesses reported seeing a sailboat disappear, but no debris or boat was found.